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WCU alum helps preserve coastal parks through NPS grant
From the mountains to the sea
WCU alum, scientist helps preserve coastal parks through NPS grant
BY JULIA DUVALL CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Growing up in Franklin, Katie Peek never dreamed she would one day be living in the mountains and working as a coastal scientist in Western Carolina University’s Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines.
But here she is, helping to develop protocol for assessing the vulnerability of coastal hazards and sea level rises for the National Park Service, from the Statue of Liberty to a road in the Sitka National Historic Park in Alaska, all while continuing to reside in Western North Carolina.
WCU’s Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines was recently awarded a $295,000 grant from the National Park Service to continue the vulnerability assessments of its coastal and Great Lakes national parks.
“Katie is great at what she does and continues to be a driving force behind this project,” said Robert Young, director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines. “With this grant we are continuing the work we’ve been doing the past few years to develop protocols for measuring the vulnerability of these parks.”
Peek is co-principal investigator for the grant along with Blair Tormey, also a coastal research scientist and geologist in the program.
“The Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines takes a worldwide view of modern coastal processes and geologic hazards, examines the scientific basis for managing developed shorelines in a time of rising sea level and advocates for the development and implementation of responsible strategies, plans, policies and actions that promote the long-term sustainability of the nation’s coastal ecosystems,” Young said.
Peek earned her Bachelor of Science in Geology from WCU in 2007 and a Master of Science in Coastal Geology from East Carolina University in 2009, when a grant-funded position in the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines was created.
Peek had worked with Young during her time as an undergraduate as he was beginning to do coastal work and partner with the NPS on projects.
“In my junior and senior year, I got to go to the coast a lot with my classmates and Rob,” Peek said. “By continuing to visit the coast and learning about the vulnerability of our shorelines, I was drawn to coastal geology.”
Peek was able to visit the Channel Islands National Park for a wetlands restoration project and in her graduate work studied the Outer Banks geological history and the Cape Hatteras region.
The mountains were calling Peek home after graduation and she began working at WCU full-time in January 2010.
Building on the work she had helped with as an undergrad, Peek and the team from WCU have been visiting the different national parks in the U.S. and have developed a plan of action to measure vulnerability collecting raw data and creating a number scale and three categories based on the scientific data: low, moderate or high vulnerability.
“We wanted to take the hard scientific data and make it universally useable to where management looking at the numbers can easily tell what is threating their infrastructure,” Peek said. “We needed this to be practical and useable day-to-day for the folks that work in these parks. The initial process of getting the data down to a number and category is very challenging, and we always give the parks their raw data, but this allows for practical use.”
Peek and the team have published 25 reports so far with 20 more in the process of being published.
“Right here in Cullowhee, we are creating the protocol for the entire coastal and Great Lakes national parks system,” Young said. “I am so proud of this team and the tremendous work we are doing.”
The next step in the project is to create protocol for the eight Great Lakes national parks, which have their own unique set of challenges due to the winds and overall climate in that area. Then the project will continue to move westward.
But Peek and the team are up for the challenge. “This will be a chance for us to F
Katie Peek (above) works through the data in her office at WCU.
Peek visits a national park in Alaska. WCU photos
Winter is the perfect time to start planning the summer
garden. File photo
Start plants from seed
Get help starting plants from seed with a program offered twice this week. Minda Daughtry of Swain County Cooperative Extension will explain which seeds work best for indoor starts and how to build a simple seed starting grow-shelf: ■ 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in the meeting room of the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. 828.488.3030. ■ 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 in the Community Room of the Jackson County Public Library. 828.586.2016.
This is a demonstration, not a workshop. It is free with no registration required.
Workday planned at Jackson greenway
Help remove invasive plants on the Jackson County Greenway 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28.
The Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the event with MountainTrue. For more information, contact Trevor Brown at 828.293.3053, ext. 9, or trevorbrown@jacksonnc.org.
New board members wanted for Friends of DuPont Forest
Friends of DuPont Forest is looking for new board members to start a term beginning in April.
The board supports the organization through mission-based leadership, strategic governance and hands-on work through various committees. Board members are responsible for planning, policy development, financial oversight, fundraising and working to ensure the organization is accomplishing its mission to enhance the public use and enjoyment of the DuPont State Recreational Forest while protecting its natural resources.
The Board meets on the third Tuesday of every other month, and members are expected to actively participate in committees, fundraise and attend hosted events when able.
For more information, or to submit an application, visit dupontforest.com/jointheboard.
look at the protocol and make adjustments to meet the needs of the Great Lakes,” said Peek. “Strong lake winds push ice onto people’s doorsteps and block roadways, so there is an entirely new set of challenges that comes with determining the plan of action for this area.”
Climate change is also another big aspect of understanding how to adjust the protocol to fit the individual park’s needs.
“Every single day, the folks that work at these parks are seeing the effects of climate change with their own eyes,” said Peek. “This protocol is vital to ensure future generations can enjoy these parks like we are able to.”
For Peek, her favorite part of her work is the relationships with the park staff she builds with each visit and getting to experience all of the different parts of the U.S.
“You’d be surprised at how many parks are tucked away all around us,” said Peek. “Each park is beautiful in its own way and getting to see them all is just amazing. We have all of these cultural and historical sites that are so important to know about.”
For Young, relationship building is a key aspect of this project.
“Katie has earned the respect of the entire National Park Service, from the park staff to the highest officials. We are very fortunate to have her be part of this project,” Young said. (Julia Duvall is WCU’s senior media relations coordinator and can be reached at jduvall@email.wcu.edu. For more information about the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, visit psds.wcu.edu.)
Canyon Woodward descends the trail to a first place finish during a previous Assault on Blackrock.
Join the Assault on BlackRock
The Assault on BlackRock trail race will return Saturday, March 18, to Pinnacle Park in Sylva.
The course covers about 7 miles and more than 2,000 feet of elevation gain as runners struggle up to the top of Black Rock and then return to the trailhead. Anyone who completes the course in 101 minutes gets a belt buckle, with prizes for top finishes and T-shirt to anyone registering before March 1.
Cost is $25 for pre-registration or $30 on race day. All proceeds will go to the Jackson County Public Schools Back to School Bash, which provides students and families with school necessities like book bags, school supplies, sports physicals, haircuts and clothing free of charge.
Register at ultrasignup.com.
Play indoor soccer
Adult indoor soccer takes place 6 to 8 p.m. each Wednesday at the Old Hazelwood Gym in Waynesville.
Offered by Haywood County Recreation and Parks, indoor soccer night is $3 each evening with season passes available for $20. Learn more at haywoodcountync.gov/recreation.
Hike the MST through Asheville
Take a hike with the Carolina Mountain Club Saturday, Jan. 15, in Asheville.
The group will meet at the Folk Art Center along the Blue Ridge Parkway and hike 14 miles roundtrip starting at the French Broad Overlook near the N.C. Arboretum. They will then hike over the rolling Biltmore section of the Mountain-toSea Trail to get back to the Folk Art Center — with a much-anticipated stop along the way for lunch and warmup at the Fresh Market. The trek includes 2,050 feet of ascent.
“This is a great winter workout hike on the MST through the Asheville corridor that everyone has had so much fun doing in previous years,” reads the hike description.
No dogs allowed, and reservations required with hike leader Les Love at 828.230.1861.
Fire and rescue personnel can enjoy Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley for a reduced rate Jan. 26-27 during Fire and Rescue Appreciation Days.
The rate applies to fire and rescue personnel and their families, with valid ID. Learn more at cataloochee.com. Cataloochee Ski Area. File photo Breathe, relax, and take in nature in this completely renovated 3 bed 2 bath pet friendly vacation home.
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